Buying your first portrait lens

On my Beginners Photography Course we discuss which lenses you should consider investing in once you have outgrown your kit lens (usually an 18-55mm 3.5 - 5.6). Your kit lens is a what I would describe as an "everyday all round" lens, which will allow you to capture a landscape or a closer up portrait. That said it can be challenging to get that lovely background blur you would like on portraits, so I advise purchasing the 50 1.8 lens.

This portrait lens is fantastic indoors because of the low aperture, and outdoors as its nice and easy to carry around on days out with the kids. Below are details of both the Canon and Nikon versions of the lens including suggestions of where you can buy them. I would not suggest buying from Ebay just incase you have a problem with the lens and find yourself unable to return it.

If you want to buy second hand I would use a reputable camera group such as MBP photographic. The link to their used Canon 1.8 lenses is here and they are priced at around £64.

3. Nikon New 50 1.8 G (full name Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G Lens )

One point to note here, to ensure your 50 1.8 lens is compatible with your Nikon, the lens must have a G at the end. There is a slightly cheaper 50 1. 8 version but it is not compatible with all Nikon DSLR's.